When “American Idol” left the air in 2016 after 15 seasons it’s likely not all that many of its once-fervent, now-fatigued, fans were all that surprised or upset.

The groundbreaking reality TV singing competition debuted in 2002 and had enjoyed a fantastic run for a decade, ruling as the biggest shows on television. Winners such as Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood launched superstar careers, and even singers who fell short of the title, such as Jennifer Hudson and Adam Lambert, found stardom.

But in its final years, as viewers drifted away to others shows such as former “Idol” judge Simon Cowell’s “The X Factor” or NBC’s “The Voice,” the “Idol” franchise looked done. Do you remember who won that final season two years ago? Right, point proven.

But still, 13 million people tuned in to see someone named Trent Harmon win that 15th season, and that’s a pretty good number in our crowded TV landscape. So after a bit negotiation ABC ended up with the rights to the show which returns after what ended up a break of just a single season at 8 p.m. Sunday, March 11. And after watching that first episode, we can tell you that it’s a solid return, and definitely stronger than its last few seasons.

A good part of that is the chemistry of the new judges – pop star Katy Perry, country singer Luke Bryan and Mr. “All Night Long” himself, Lionel Richie – with the contestants who walk into the room to audition and with each other. The classic judges were, of course, Simon Cowell, known for his cutting but entertaining critiques, Paula Abdul, known for her tendency to not always make much sense, and Randy Jackson, known for not really feeling it, dawg. And they were great, often more fun to watch than the actual performers on stage.

But when Abdul left after season 8 and Cowell followed her out the door a year later, that magic trio was broken in ways that replacement judges such as Kara DioGuardi (the Trent Harmon of judges), Ellen DeGeneres (blink and you missed her), Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez (you know they fought over styling products backstage), and Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj (train wrecks during their one season together) could never replace.

The final run of judges Keith Urban, Harry Connick Jr. and the return of J. Lo wasn’t all that bad, but by then the show was showing its age, so the fresh appeal of Perry, Bryan and Richie, all of whom seem to like each other and have a good time together (in the premiere they form a group chat under the name the Judgmentals), all of which makes their interactions with each other and the contestants fresh fun.

The only returnee to the new “Idol” is host Ryan Seacrest, who in recent weeks has faced allegations of sexual misconduct by a stylist at E! where he also long has worked. Seacrest has denied the charge and E! said its internal investigation did not find proof of wrongdoing. ABC declined to comment on Seacrest and he will appear on Sunday’s premiere.

There also seems to be a bit more humanity in Idol 2.0, with fewer auditions for truly dreadful singers sent in just so we can laugh at and mock them, and more of those meant-to-be-heartwarming segments that show the singers back home in their real lives. That extends to the judging, too, with fewer Cowell-style eviscerations and more kind moves such as Perry smooching an awkward teen boy on the lips for his first-ever kiss or the scene in which Richie regrets not sending one singer forward to the Hollywood round and runs out to find the kid and change his vote to give him a second chance.

Watching that last scene as well as one or two others – let me just say here “alpacas” – actually made me feel something inside my wizened old TV watcher’s chest, a warm and fuzzy kind of nostalgia for a once-classic show getting at least a little bit of its groove back. Of course it will ultimate hang on whether the show found any good singers and any great characters, people you want to listen to sing and watch on TV.

But for now, welcome back “American Idol,” let’s hear what you’ve got.

Peter Larsen has been the Pop Culture Reporter for the Orange County Register since 2004, finally achieving the neat trick of getting paid to report and write about the stuff he's obsessed about pretty much all his life. He regularly covers the Oscars and the Emmys, goes to Comic-Con and Coachella, reviews pop music, and conducts interviews with authors and actors, musicians and directors, a little of this and a whole lot of that. He grew up, in order, in California, Arkansas, Kentucky and Oregon. Graduated from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore. with degrees in English and Communications. Earned a master's degree at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Earned his first newspaper paycheck at the Belleville (Ill.) News-Democrat, fled the Midwest for Los Angeles Daily News and finally ended up at the Orange County Register. He's taught one or two classes a semester in the journalism and mass communications department at Cal State Long Beach since 2006. Somehow managed to get a lovely lady to marry him, and with her have two daughters. And a dog named Buddy. Never forget the dog.